Las Vegas GP: Classification, Grid, and Penalties Explained
Charles Leclerc stood out in a clear lead during the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend, securing his fifth pole position of the season and the 23rd of his Formula 1 career. He set the fastest single-lap time by a comfortable margin, finishing more than a tenth of a second ahead of his closest rival. The Monegasque driver, while dominant in qualifying up to the point of the one-lap duel, would not start from the front of the grid for the main race. A penalty from an earlier crash in free practice weighed him down, placing him well back from pole position for the start. The incident during practice had broader implications for his final starting position, illustrating how even a pole can be offset by penalties and the sport’s safety protocols. This outcome is a reminder that the grid for the race often reflects penalties and infractions as much as raw speed in qualifying. Source: Official F1 event results and time sheets.
Fernando Alonso, who had shown strong pace throughout the weekend, settled for tenth in qualifying. He earns a shift to ninth on the grid after receiving a penalty that favors him in relation to teammate Carlos Sainz. Alonso’s performance contrast with the morning sessions underscored his skill, even as the penalty underscored the reality that penalties can reshape the strategy and expectations for the race. Teammate Lance Stroll faced a five-place penalty due to an infraction involving overtaking under a yellow flag during the third Free Practice, further illustrating how practice session decisions can ripple into the race weekend. Source: Official F1 event results and time sheets.
Las Vegas GP. Classification and Grid: Overview
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’32″726. Leclerc’s pole performance demonstrated his capacity to extract maximum pace when it matters most, reinforcing his status as a consistent front-runner this season. Source: Official F1 event results.
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’33″104. Verstappen kept pressure on the leaders with a lap that reflected the Red Bull’s renowned pace in high-speed street circuits. Source: Official F1 event results.
3. George Russell (Mercedes) 1’33″112. Russell delivered a sharp lap that highlighted Mercedes’ ongoing improvements and the competitive field padding behind Leclerc. Source: Official F1 event results.
4. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1’33″239. Gasly’s effort put Alpine into a strong mid-pack position, signaling the team’s continued progress on demanding tracks. Source: Official F1 event results.
5. Alexander Albon (Williams) 1’33″323. Albon’s performance underscored Williams’ emergence as a credible competitor in the midfield, with solid consistency on a tough layout. Source: Official F1 event results.
6. Logan Sargeant (Williams) 1’33″513. The rookie’s lap times reinforced Williams’ upward trajectory as he gained experience on a challenging circuit. Source: Official F1 event results.
7. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1’33″525. Bottas continued to show steadiness and speed, contributing to a strong Alfa Romeo showing in qualifying. Source: Official F1 event results.
8. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 1’33″537. Magnussen delivered a steady run that helped Haas maintain a presence in the upper midfield. Source: Official F1 event results.
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1’33″555. Alonso’s performance maintained his reputation for qualifying bravery, even as the penalty reshaped his ultimate starting position. Source: Official F1 event results.
10. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1’33″837. Hamilton’s lap reflected the evolving balance within the Mercedes lineup and the ongoing push for top-tier pace on street circuits. Source: Official F1 event results.
11. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) 1’33″855. Pérez’s result kept him in the leading positions, ready to capitalize on opportunities as the race unfolded. Source: Official F1 event results.
12. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 1’32″770 (-10 positions). Sainz faced a ten-place penalty for exceeding the allowed energy usage for the season, a decision that significantly altered the front of the grid and added strategic complexity to Ferrari’s race plan. Source: Official F1 event results.
13. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) 1’33″979. Hülkenberg’s strong speed carried Haas into the upper half of the midfield, highlighting the driver’s long-standing reliability and pace. Source: Official F1 event results.
14. Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) 1’33″308. Ricciardo’s time reflected AlphaTauri’s responsiveness to the evolving conditions on race weekend. Source: Official F1 event results.
15. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1’34″703. Norris’ lap illustrated the challenges McLaren faced while chasing front-runners on a track demanding precision. Source: Official F1 event results.
16. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 1’34″834. Ocon’s quick session confirmed Alpine’s ongoing growth as a persistent threat in the midfield. Source: Official F1 event results.
17. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1’34″849. Zhou’s run contributed to a competitive scramble within the midfield, emphasizing the field’s depth this season. Source: Official F1 event results.
18. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1’34″850. Piastri’s pace in qualifying highlighted McLaren’s steady development as they push for higher results when performance meets track demands. Source: Official F1 event results.
19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’33″199 (-5P). Stroll’s session was cut short by the penalties from practice three, illustrating how risk management in practice directly shapes race-day starting lines. Source: Official F1 event results.
20. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1’36″44. Tsunoda’s final lap underlined the difficulty of extracting maximum speed on the Las Vegas street course. Source: Official F1 event results.
* Sainz was penalized with 10 positions for using more energy than allowed per season. Source: Official F1 event results.
** Stroll was penalized five positions with a double yellow flag for overtaking under caution during practice three. Source: Official F1 event results.